Pac-12 boycott threat: Examining the players’ demands and commissioner Larry Scott’s response, item by item

Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott responded to a letter from the players involved in the #WeAreUnited movement and outlined conference policy on issues central to the movement.

How far apart are the Pac-12 and the #WeAreUnited players on issues at the heart of the threat to sit out the season?

We should know more later this week, after the two sides discuss the players’ demands.

It appears they are surprisingly close on some matters and galaxies apart on others.

The Hotline has obtained Scott’s response to a letter sent by 12 players serving as representatives of the group.

We then compared the Pac-12’s position, in item-by-item fashion, to the #WeAreUnited demands.

It’s all laid out below.

*** Note I: We have re-ordered the players’ demands and the conference’s positions from their placement in original documents to provide greater clarity for readers.

*** Note II: The #WeAreUnited demands and the Pac-12 policy positions listed below are taken verbatim from the originals. I have removed quotations to make the material easier to read.

*** Note III: In order to provide the broadest perspective possible, I have included demands from the players that did not generate a specific response from Scott and conference policies that are in Scott’s letter but not part of the players’ demands.

(The letter from Scott was first published by Sports Illustrated.)

COVID-19 Protections

Players demand: Allow option not to play in the pandemic without losing our athletics eligibility or spot on our team roster.
Players acknowledgment: We appreciate the Pac-12’s recent announcement that every athlete will keep their athletic scholarship if they choose to opt-out of athletics participation over COVID-19 concerns during the 2018-19 school year
Pac-12 policy: The Pac-12 has made clear that any student-athlete who chooses not to return to competition for health or safety reasons will have their scholarship protected and will remain in good standing with their team … The Pac-12 and peers in the Autonomy Five conferences voted in 2015 to guarantee that athletic scholarships cannot be canceled for poor athletics performance.

Liability waivers

Players demand: Prohibit/void COVID-19 agreements that waive liability.
Pac-12 policy: None stated

Mandatory Safety Standards

Players demand: Player-approved health and safety standards enforced by a 3rd party selected by players to address COVID-19 and serious injury, abuse and death.
Pac-12 policy I: At all Pac-12 and peer Autonomy Five Conference institutions, medical officials have “unchallengeable autonomous authority” in deciding a student’s ability to play a sport.
Pac-12 policy II: The Pac-12’s fall competition plans have been directed by medical experts and informed by the advice of public health experts, with the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and staff always the first priority. The Pac-12 Medical Advisory Committee, who have developed comprehensive health and well-being protocols and who meet multiple times per week, have guided the Pac-12’s return-to-competition plans.  This committee is comprised of leading experts in the areas of infectious disease and public health. Additionally, the Pac-12’s return to competition plans have always been subject to and in accordance with the advice of public health officials and all relevant government orders, and are continuously evaluated based on the best available science and data.

Use of conference/university funds

Players demand: Larry Scott, administrators, and coaches to voluntarily and drastically reduce excessive pay.
Pac-12 policy: None stated

Players demand: End performance/academic bonuses.
Pac-12 policy: None stated

Players demand: End lavish facility expenditures and use some endowment funds to preserve all sports. (As an example, Stanford University should reinstate all sports discontinued by tapping into their 27.7 Billion dollar endowment.)
Pac-12 policy: None stated

Racial Injustice in College Sports/Society

Players demand: Form a permanent civic engagement joint task force of our leaders and experts of our choice and university and conference administrators to address outstanding issues such as racial injustice in college sports and in society.
Players demand: Form annual Pac-12 Black College Athlete Summit with guaranteed representation of at least 3 athletes of our choice from every school.
Pac-12 policy: On July 1, the Pac-12 announced a series of next steps to combat racism and support social justice, including (i) a newly-created head of diversity & inclusion position at the Conference, (ii) the formation of a social justice & anti-racism advisory group that includes student-athlete representatives, and (iii) the launch of series of student-athlete & coach anti-racism forums. These initiatives were developed based upon conversations with student-athletes, along with coaches and others. Additionally, the Pac-12 has for many years had an ImPACt initiative that includes partnerships, educational sessions for student-athletes, and activations at events with civil rights leaders like RISE and the Anti-Defamation League. Our newly formed group in this area is actively continuing to solicit input from student-athletes on actions that we can take.

Guaranteed Medical Expense Coverage

Players demand: Medical insurance selected by players and sports-related medical conditions, including COVID-19 illness, for 6 years after college athletics eligibility ends.
Pac-12 policy: Since 2015, all Pac-12 student-athletes receive four years of post-eligibility medical care for injuries, twice as many years of coverage as any other major conference.

Name, Image, Likeness

Players demand: The freedom to secure representation, receive basic necessities from any 3rd party, and earn money for use of our name, image, and likeness rights.
Pac-12 policy: The Pac-12 supports national NIL legislation to provide student-athletes with the same opportunity to monetize their name, image and likeness as all other students.  Our position on NIL have been informed by extensive discussions with and input from our student-athletes.  Two of our six states in the Pac-12 footprint (California and Colorado) have already passed state laws. We have discussed the NIL matter extensively with the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), as well as conducted roundtable discussions with student-athletes on our campuses over the last six months to get a broader perspective.  We agree with student-athletes that all 7,000 Pac-12 student-athletes need to compete under a single set of rules and have the same opportunity to monetize their NIL, and are actively working towards those goals.

Economics (Fair Market Pay, Rights, & Freedoms)

Players demand: 2% of conference revenue directed by players in partnership with conference to support financial aid for low-income Black students, community initiatives, and development programs for college athletes on each campus.
Pac-12 policy: None stated

Players demand: 50% of each sport’s total conference revenue distributed evenly among athletes in their respective sport.
Pac-12 policy: Since 2015, students who play sports at in the Pac-12 and any Autonomy Five institutions are eligible to receive the full cost of attendance benefits as part of their athletic scholarship. In total, with scholarships and cost of attendance stipends, students may receive benefits for tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, general supplies, and personal expenses.

Scholarship duration

Players demand: 6-year athletic scholarships to foster undergraduate & graduate degree completion.
Pac-12 policy: Since 2015, any Pac-12 student-athlete who leaves school before graduating can return to campus and use the remainder of their educational scholarship to earn their degrees

Personal time and free speech

Players demand: Elimination of all policies and practices restricting or deterring our freedom of speech, our ability to fully participate in charitable work, and our freedom to participate in campus activities outside of mandatory athletics participation.
Pac-12 policy: In 2017, The Pac-12 and its peers in the Autonomy Five conferences, in consultation with students, coaches, faculty and administrators, approved changes giving students more time to pursue academics, work, internships, or additional rest and recovery.  Students who play sports will have an additional 21 days away from athletics, in most cases.  Student-athletes will be involved in the establishment of their schedules, allowing for more transparency for student-athletes than ever before

Post-draft eligibility

Players demand: Ability to complete eligibility after participating in a pro draft if player goes undrafted and foregoes professional participation within 7 days of draft
Pac-12 policy: None stated

Transfers

Players demand: Ability of players of all sports to transfer one time without punishment and additionally in cases of abuse or serious negligence.
Pac-12 policy: The Pac-12 Conference is supportive of national NCAA legislation granting football and basketball student-athletes the ability to transfer between schools more easily (i.e. similar to student-athletes in other sports). Such legislation is slated to be voted on by the NCAA in January 2021.

Legal justice

Players demand: Due process rights
Pac-12 policy: None stated

Conference governance

Player demands: None stated
Pac-12 policy: The Pac-12 is the only major conference in which student-athletes are represented in the Conference governance structure with its Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT).

Free meals

Players demand: None stated
Pac-12 policy: Pac-12 universities provide leading nutritional support and resources to all student-athletes. Since 2014, all Pac-12 universities provide unlimited meals and snacks to student-athletes

Mental health

Players demand: None stated
Pac-12 policy: The Pac-12 developed and advocated for an NCAA policy that would require institutions to make mental health services, resources and education available for student-athletes. The Pac-12 and its peers in the Autonomy Five conferences unanimously voted in 2019 to support and adopt that policy.

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